Posted on 09/13/2010 1:34:04 PM PDT by paterfamilias
Is it Muslim or Moslem?
When Baby Boomers were children it was Moslem. The American Heritage Dictionary (1992) noted, "Moslem is the form predominantly preferred in journalism and popular usage. Muslim is preferred by scholars and by English-speaking adherents of Islam." No more. Now, almost everybody uses Muslim.
According to the Center for Nonproliferation Studies, "Moslem and Muslim are basically two different spellings for the same word." But the seemingly arbitrary choice of spellings is a sensitive subject for many followers of Islam. Whereas for most English speakers, the two words are synonymous in meaning, the Arabic roots of the two words are very different. A Muslim in Arabic means "one who gives himself to God," and is by definition, someone who adheres to Islam. By contrast, a Moslem in Arabic means "one who is evil and unjust" when the word is pronounced, as it is in English, Mozlem with a z.
For others, this spelling differentiation is merely a linguistic matter, with the two spellings a result of variation in transliteration methods. Both Moslem and Muslim are used as nouns. But some writers use Moslem when the word is employed as an adjective.
Journalists switched to Muslim from Moslem in recent years under pressure from Islamic groups. But the use of the word Moslem has not entirely ceased. Established institutions which used the older form of the name have been reluctant to change. The American Moslem Foundation is still the American Moslem Foundation (much as the NAACP is still the NAACP--the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People). The journal The Moslem World--published by the Hartford Seminary in Connecticut--is still The Moslem World.
(References at link)
Of course, they do claim to be descended from Hagar rather than Sarah.
I don't think many Muslims really want to be Muslims in the mold of Mohammad. I think that many Muslim Americans feel the same way.
But I also believe that strictly adhering to Mohammad's laws are just pure evil and anti-democratic, to say the least, the biggest threat to freedom and American values ever.
I’m not very sympathetic to the Moslem religion, and certainly we cannot allow any religion to take over public life. I wouldn’t allow many Moslems to emigrate here if they are going to be a disruptive force.
Still, hating all Moslems and talking about “extirpating” them is outlandish at best.
I learned it “Belgrade,” but the city’s name is “Beograd.”
Why not just call it what the natives call it, rather than making up a new word?
They're intent on taking over public life in America, right now, hence all the anger at Muslims at large.
The question is how to fight the evil, radical nature of Islam as strictly interpreted and still adhere to our Constitutional principles for ourselves, as well as Muslims who mean us no harm.
How is one to accomplish such a feat?
They used to be called “Mohammedans”, I like that better. Even more accurate is “murdering butchers”.
“Mo(hammed) Fo(llower)’s”
Now, THAT has possibilities
I thought “musselman” was supposed to be the way the Israelis said it but I guess I was wrong about that too. Anyway, now I know how to pronounce that word, Mozzzzzlum.
I am not familiar with a well known intent to take over America (by most American Moslems) and more importantly, I am not aware of any great risk that such an attempt can be successful.
Again, IF Moslems will become a disruptive element in our society, their emigration should be limited. At present I believe they are at most 1% of the population, therefore in no position to take over.
Journalists switched to Muslim from Moslem in recent years under pressure from Islamic groups.
Me too, like a minute ago. How else do you pronounce it?
“I can remember when “Chile” was pronounced “chili” in this country. Perhaps it’s part of a movement to pronounce names closer to the way natives do, and do away with anglicized pronunciations???”
Well, I would like to agree with you, but I believe it is just PC BS.
I remember Peter Jennings making a big deal about pronouncing it “Nee-carrrrr-ah-gua” but never once saying “Roma,” “Hellas” (Greece), “Deitschland.”
All BS, in my opinion.;
It's apparent that one doesn't need great numbers or have great difficulty in infiltrating the U.S. government with all those rules protecting religion and national origin. Once you infiltrate, then disruption is childsplay and the public can do little about it until the next election and even then one can't be sure the problem will be solved.
I know. But I sniff an odor of pretensiousness when NPR-types do it. I suspect they're trying to show off how more-sophisticated-than-thou they are.
I call them “Saracens’’.Saracen,(noun) (hist.) 1. A member of of any of the nomadic tribes on the Syrian borders of the Roman Empire.2.(in later use) an Arab. 3.a Muslim, esp. one mentioned in connection with any of the Crusades. For me their just ‘’Saracen bastards.’’
My guess it the pronunciations go back before transmitted audio,e.g., Budapest vs. Budapesht.
I know quite a number of Spanish people who look at people rather strange or even a little insulted when people over-exaggerate or over-pronounce Spanish names.
you are on to something here.
I’ve seen the word ‘’mussleman(n) used in reference to concentration camp survivors. It’s a German word isn’t it?
I’ve seen Osama spelled Usama
Mohammad spelled Muhammed and a few other ways.
Whatever works is fine with me. Maybe someone could give us some generally accepted rules.
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